Pittsburgh Pirates Catching Prospect Tony Sanchez Lands On Triple-A Disabled List

September 6:  The Indianapolis Indians placed Tony Sanchez on the disabled list and recalled Miguel Perez from Double-A Altoona.  Sanchez started the first game of the Indians playoff series and batted twice, but was replaced by the toy cannon Ramon Cabrera.   Sanchez had suffered a broken toe toward the end of the Indians season.

In the second playoff game Cabrera made the start, while last night Perez caught for Filthy Phil Irwin , who was dominant.

It has to be a frustrating way for Sanchez to end his season,  but the Pirates first rounder doesn’t let it impact his funny twitter feed:

It would appear that Sanchez could be done for the year.  He started the season at Double-A Altoona, where he hit  .277 (39-for-141) with 22 runs, 14 doubles, 17 RBI and 18 walks over 40 games.

If you were to look at just his last 23 games, Tony Montana batted .366 (15-for-41) while posting the second best OBP in the Eastern League at .447.  That streak, and his work with the Altoona pitchers, got him a ticket to Triple-A Indianapolis on June 4.

Sanchez started slowly at the plate, but started hitting like a man again when he crushed three straight homers from July 2-6.   So, after hitting no homers in his first 57 games combined between Altoona and Indianapolis in 2012, he hit six in 23 games during the month of July with Indianapolis.

Here are Sanchez’s numbers below –  with the Pirates catching tandem in such a bad way, it’s time to light that candle for Sanchez.  We trust he can play some ball over the winter and get things in order to take charge in 2013.  The Pirates need Sanchez in a big way… or  maybe it’s just we who are astounded at the play of the catching tandem in Pittsburgh?